Friction-gear.



B. S. JOHNSON.

FRICION GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2.1915.

Paten-Im my 3, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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BRADLEY S. IOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TD WILLIAM H. MINER. OF

Y CHAZY, NEW YORK.

FRICTION-GEAR.

Application filed December 2, 1915.

To LM whom it may concern:

Be it linown that I, BRADLEY S. JOHNSON',

at tate a citizenof thev United States, residin Chicago, in the county of Cook. and

0f Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Friction-Gears, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a 1@ part of this specification.

high capacity and simple arrangement.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of a draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith, the parts being shown in normal or full released position. Fig. 2 is a view siniilarto Fig. 1 .butillustrating the position of the parts under full bun'. Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially on the line`3*3 of Fig. 1. Figs.

and 5 are detail perspectives of one. of the friction shoes and combined spring follower and wedge, respectively. And Fig. 6 is a detail, sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In said drawing, 10-10 denote the center sills, the same being provided with rear stops 11 and front stops 12. The coupler 13 is operatively connected with the gear' proper, hereinafter described, by a yoke strap 111-, the' latter encircling the gear and riding upon a saddle plate 15.

The gear proper, as shown, c nsists of a front follower 1G, rear follower l?, each of 4o which is provided on its inner face with an integral wedge 1S. Between the` followers is mounted a heavy spring consisting o f an outer heavy coil 19 and inner lighter coil 20,

said spring being arranged longitudinally of the gear and mounted on a longitudinally extending bolt 21, the latter having its ends received in suitable recesses 22 formed in the combined followers and wedges 16-18. At each end of the spring is a combined 5o spring follower and wedge A, see Fig. 5.

As shown, each member A is provided with a flat inner face 23 against which the main spring bears, and a'pair of diverging wedge faces 21k-24 on its outer face, the diver-ging wedge faces 24-24 being parallel to the Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 191 *7.

Serial No. 64,626.

adjacent corresponding wedge faces of the wedge 18. Also interposed between the followers 16 and 17 are two friction shoes B-B, see Fig. Ll. As shown, each of the shoes B is provided at its ends with diagonally arranged flanges A25, the flanges 25 having parallel inner and outer faces in engagement and cooperating with a wedge face 24: and face of the adjacent wedge 18. For the purpose of strengthening and also to assist in maintaining the parts in proper position, each friction shoe B is provided with upper and lower horizontal` flanges 26-Q6, connecting said flanges 2.5 with the main portions of the shoes, thereby forming a triangular shaped opening at each end of the shoes B within which isreceived'. one end of the cooperating member A. Each of the members B is also preferably provided on its exterior face with a series of longitudinally extending ribs 27-27. As clearly vshown in Figs, 1 and 2, a hollow thimble 2S mounted on the connecting rod or bolt Q1, `said thimble 28 being adapted to limit the compression of the gear as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. l

,The normal position of the parts Ls as shown in Fig. 1. Upon relative approach of the followers 16 and 17, upon either buff or draft, the wedges 18 will force the friction shoes B away from each other or outwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 9., this movement of the friction shoes being resisted by' the combined spring followers and wedges A, movement of which is in turn resisted by the main spring. It will be noted that the friction shoes B not onlyY move inwardly and outwardly relatively to the center line of the gear but also have simultaneous bodily movement longitudinally of the gear. Furthermore, it will be seen that the length of the friction shoes B is preferably so designed that the ends of the latter will engage with the followers 16 and 17 simultaneously with the engagement of the members A-A with the hollow thimble 2S to thereby limit the amount of spring compression. Upon release, the parts will return to normal due to the separation of the members A under the influence of the spring and in this action, the shoes B will coperate with the members A to prevent heavy recoil, and will thus serve as effective ampeners.

-The arrangement shown in Fig. `6 corre.

i Fig. 6 l is the friction shoe, A is the com` i t nds to 'a section taken on the line 6-6 oi Fig. l but the wedge faces and coperaiing ianges of the friction shoe are cor-v rugated as indicated at 2li-29 to thereby inthe areas of thelcoperating friction es, it! being understoodithat in said vbined spring follower' and wedge and 118 is the wedge on the inner side ofthe main follower of the gear.

Although l haveherein shown and described what I now consider the preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is merely illustrative and l contemplate all changes and modifications vthat come Within the 'sicopeof theclaims appended hereto.

1."ln afdraft-- riggilig, the combination Awith followers, a siring between said folble transversely of the gear, and wedge means ateach end of said'slioes and coperablewith said followers, spring, and shoes arrange to force said shoes outwardly when the foh vers approach each other.

3. Inla friction gear, the combination with end followers, wedges on the inner faces of said followers, a longitudinally arranged spring, wedges at the ends of said spring, of

friction shoes having flanges at the ends thereof interposed between said sets of wedgesysaid shoes being movable away from each other upon relative approach of'.the followers. f

4. In a frietiongear for `draft riggings, the. combination' witlia longitudinally 'arl ranged spring, followers engaging the ends 5G of said spring, divei'giiig'wedges associated with and on the outer side of said followers, friction shoes' having flanges at their ends cooperating with sai wedges, and' outer end Awedges coperatlng with said flanges.

5. In a friction gear for draft riggings, the combination with nlain Ifollowers, wedges on `the inner side of said followers and having the wedge faces thereof converg? the wedges on the inner side of said followers ("Fit? meneer ing inwardly toward the center of the gear,

a longitudinally arranged spring between said followers, and combined spring followers and wedges at the ends of said spring, said wedges having the faces thereof diverging and parallel to the faces of said first named Wedges, of friction shoes arranged longitudinally of the gear and having diagonally disposed flanges at the ends thereof interposed between said sets of wedges, said slices being movable outwardly relative to each other upon relative approach of said main followers.

6.` ln a friction gear for draft riggings, the combination with. main followers, wedges on the inner side of said followers and having the wedge faces thereof converging inwardly toward the center of the gear,

'a longitudinally `arranged spring between said followers, and combined spring followers and wedges at the ends 'of said spring, said wedges havingr the faces thereof diverging` and parallel to the faces'of said first named wedges, of friction shoes arranged longitudinally of the gear and having diagonally disposed flanges at the ends thereof interposed between said sets of wedges, said shoes being movable outwardly relative to each other upon relative approach of said main followers, said shoes having upper' and lower webs connecting said flanges with the fmain body of said shoes, thereby forming interior pockets at the ends of the shoes and within 'which said combined spring followers :and wedges are adapted to he received. 7. In a friction gear for draft riggings, combination with main followers,

and having the wedge faces thereof converg- ,ing inwardly toward the center of the gear,

a longitudinally arranged .spring between 4said followers, an( combined spring followers and wedges at. the ends of said spring, said wedges havinf the. faces thereof diverging and parallel o the faces of said first named wedges, `of friction shoes arranged longitudinally of the gear and having diag nally disposed flanges at the enils thereof interposed between said sets of wedges, said shoes being movable outwardly relatively to each other upon relative approach of said main followers, the ends of said shoes engaging'said main followers to limit thel compresl sion of the. gear.

In witness that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of INov'. 1915.

BRADLEY S. JOHNSON. 

